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Philly’s top teacher and trainer along with being and one of the world’s best ‘Bozy’ Ennis speaks out about boxing today.
Year’s ago I did an article on ‘Bozy’ Ennis and his 3 sons! Bozy himself looks like he could step back into the ring today always being in shape.
I nominated both ‘Bozy’ and his son, USBA champion Derek ‘Pooh’ Ennis, 24-5-1, with 13 stoppages for the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame, and both were inducted. I have several times nominated NABF Super Middleweight champion Farah Ennis, 22-2 with 12 stoppages hopefully he will be up for a vote soon.
His youngest son now the IBF World Welterweight title, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, 32-0 with 29 stoppages, won the WBC USA Silver Welterweight title by stopping Armando ‘Macho’ Alvarez, 18-0, in 2018.
In 2023, he won the IBF Interim Welterweight title, defeating No. 1 ranked Karen Chukhadzhian 21-1, winning all 12 rounds in Washington, D.C. In his first defense, he defeated Venezuela’s Roiman ‘Flaco de Oro’ Villa, 26-1, in Atlantic City, NJ.
In his last fight in July, he stopped David ‘Ava’ Avanesyan, 30-4-1, at Philly’s Wells Fargo Center. In November, he will again fight Chukhadzhian No. 1 by order of the IBF in Philly. He is the most avoided boxer in the division.
In 2008 ‘Pooh’ won both the Pennsylvania Light Middleweight and USA Mid-Atlantic titles, defeating Troy Browning, 20-2-1, at Philadelphia’s National Guard Armory. Then, in 2009 won the vacant USBA Super Welterweight title, defeating Nigerian Eromosele ‘Bad Boy’ Albert, 22-3-1, at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philly. In 2014, he ended his career.
Farah won the vacant NABF Super Middleweight title in 2010, stopping Victor Lares, 15-4, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His last fight was in 2015.
I asked ‘Bozy’ the following questions:
KEN H: I’ve known and respected you ever since I met you. I believe it’s about time you were recognized as one of the best teachers, as you like to call yourself, in boxing.
BOZY: I call myself a teacher, and yes, a trainer, too.
KEN H: Few trainers have ever had three sons who have all won titles. I know now that promoter Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) is promoting ‘Boots’, and you are looking to unify all the titles. I’m glad it was decided not to go to Germany for your next fight, instead again having it in Philly.
BOZY: No way we would go to Germany. Eddie is good to work with and will get us those fights for unification in time.
KEN H: What is your opinion of the other champions, starting with WBO Interim champ Brian ‘The Assassin ll’ Norman, Jr. 26-0 with 20 stoppages, who was to defend his title but suffered an injury?
BOZY: We wanted to fight him.
KEN H: What is your opinion of WBC Interim champ Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios, 29-2 with 18 stoppages, is scheduled in November to fight Abel Ramos, 28-6-2, for the WBC title?
BOZY: Good fighter, and I would like to get him.
KEN H: What is your opinion of WBA champ Eimantes Stanionis, 15-0 with 9 stoppages?
BOZY: Another good one. Been trying to get him.
KEN H: I want to clear the air about champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford. They say you turned down a fight with him.
BOZY: We have been trying to get him for 2 ½ years. We were never offered that fight. Another Vergil Ortiz, Jr. turned us down.
KEN H: I know in the past you worked with ‘The New” Ray Robinson, 25-3-2. Who else do you have and are you now working with?
BOZY: Jarrell ‘Real Big Baby’ Miller, Stephon ‘Cool Boy Steph’ Fulton, Andy Cruz, Haven Brady, Jr., Christian Carto, Ismael Muhammad, Oshae Jones, Prince Badi Ajamu, Anthony ‘The Messenger’ Thompson, Demetrius ‘The Gladiator’ Hopkins, Coy Evans, Rasheem Brown, Manny Folley, among others.
KEN H: Boots has chased Crawford and Ortiz up to super welterweight.
BOZY: We want to unify before moving up, but may have to if we don’t get a unification fight soon.
KEN H: I want to thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.
BOZY: Always a pleasure, Ken.
Boots follow many former Philly welterweights and super welterweights in the past.
One who stands out was ‘Gypsy’ Joe Harris, 24-1 with 9 stoppages. In 1966, he defeated fellow Philly boxer Stanley ‘Kitten Hayward, 22-2-1, at the Philadelphia Arena. After defeating Cokes in a non-title bout, he was to fight Cokes next for the title, but Cokes never fulfilled the rematch and should have been stripped. Harris then moved up in weight, only losing to Emile Griffith, and then retired when it was discovered he had one blind eye.
Next Harris defeated Philly killer Cuban Jose Stable who had defeated Sidney ‘Sweet Pea’ Adams, 16-2-1, Charley Scott, 34-23, Hayward, 16-1-1, Dick Turner, 19-0-1, losing to Percy Manning, 15-3. He also defeated former world champion Curtis Cokes, 32-5-1, Kenny Lane, 63-9, split with Angel Robinson Garcia, 40-9-1, in back-to-back fights, and Billy Collins, 24-3-1, before fighting Harris.
Turner, 19-2-1, after losing his unbeaten record to Stable, had defeated Louis Federico Thompson, 130-12-10, Manning, 11-0, and Isaac Logart, 64-20-9. My first live fight I attended was Turner losing to Hayward by a split decision, and I thought Turner won. He then retired.
Bobby ‘Boogaloo’ Watts, 39-7-1, fighting at welterweight and middleweight, had defeated Philly’s Eugene ‘Cyclone’ Hart, 24-3, and Willie ‘The Worm’ Monroe, 29-2-1. Then ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler, 25-0-1.
World contenders Garnet ‘Sugar’ Hart, 29-7-2, with 22 stoppages. Gil Turner, 56-19-2.
I could go on and on, so Boots follows quite a few Philly fighters who unlike him never won a world title.
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